June 4, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Stacia Momburg
805-756-6260; smomburg@calpoly.edu
Cal Poly Spring 2009 Commencement Set for June 13 and 14
SAN LUIS OBISPO -- More than 3,600 students are eligible to graduate in two separate ceremonies at Cal Poly’s Spring Commencement on Saturday, June 13, and Sunday, June 14, in the Alex G. Spanos Stadium. Both ceremonies will be held at 9:30 a.m.
This year’s commencement schedule is:
June 13 Ceremony
College of Architecture and Environmental Design – 398 eligible graduates
Orfalea College of Business – 741 eligible graduates
College of Engineering – 805 eligible graduates
Continuing Education – 23 eligible graduates
June 14 Ceremony
College of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences – 793 eligible graduates
College of Education – 61 Master of Arts in Education, 218 credentials, and six Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership
College of Liberal Arts – 808 eligible graduates
College of Science and Mathematics – 342 eligible graduates
Cal Poly will confer two honorary degrees during this year’s commencement ceremonies.
Robin L. Rossi, (ARCH, ’75), will receive an honorary doctor of humane letters in recognition of his exemplary professional achievements, public service and extraordinary commitment to higher education. He will give the keynote address on Saturday, June 13.
Rossi was named a Cal Poly Honored Alumnus in 2000. He is a long-time friend and supporter of Cal Poly and its College of Architecture and Environmental Design (CAED), and the Performing Arts Center.
He has been a member of the President’s Cabinet since 1995 and served as the CAED chairman for the university's Centennial Campaign. His support of the College of Architecture and Environmental Design has helped fund numerous projects: the CAED Cal Poly Scholars Program; an endowed professorship honoring George Hasslein, the college's long-time dean; and development of the Construction Innovations Center.
Rossi is a founder of the Performing Arts Center and served on the Board of Directors for the Foundation for the Performing Arts Center. He made one of the center’s largest individual donations and was instrumental in garnering additional support.
His professional career began before he graduated from Cal Poly. In 1975, he started the architecture firm RRM Design Group with a classmate and a professor. He left RRMas architect and senior partner in 1980 to team with a local developer who shared many of his philosophies of design, including using older buildings in new projects. In the early 1990s, he started his current firm, Rossi Enterprises.
Inonge Mbikusita-Lewanika (Home Econ. ’64, M.Ed. ’65) will receive an honorary degree of doctor of laws in recognition of her exemplary public service and extraordinary commitment to peace and women’s and children’s rights. She will give the keynote address on Sunday, June 13.
Mbikusita-Lewanika was a lecturer at the Evelyn Hone College of Further Education and Mongu Teacher Training College in Zambia. She later held the position of professor of education and teacher training at the University of Zambia.
From 1980 to 1991, she worked for UNICEF, first as regional advisor for East and Southern Africa, and then as UNICEF’s regional advisor for West and Central Africa.
Her political career in Zambia began as a member of Parliament, where she served from 1991 to 2001. From 2001 to 2002, she served as ambassador and special envoy for the Zambian president during his term as chairman of the African Union. In this capacity, she became involved in the Organization of African Unity, established to promote the unity and solidarity of African states and help the people of Africa achieve a better life.
Mbikusita-Lewanika was a founding member and later served as president of the Federation of African Women Peace Networks (FERFAP).That group has worked to promote the protection and rights of refugees; cultivate and promote principles of democracy; promote a culture of peace in Africa; and participate and advocate for equal participation of women at the local, regional and national level.
Mbikusita-Lewanika has been deeply involved in peace making. She led a peace mission to Burundi and Rwanda in 1995, the FERFAP peace missions to the Horn of Africa, and The Hague Peace Appeal in 1999.
Cal Poly expects as many as 30,000 visitors to campus for the commencement ceremonies.
For more commencement information, visit http://studentlife.calpoly.edu. For parking information, tune to Cal Poly’s AM 1610 Radio Alert System.
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